The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-02-24
ORGANIZED INDUSTRY,
WHAT THERE is IN 1T FOR THE
ARMY OF WoRKINGWoMEN.

What Women Are Doing and What They
May Do in the Way of Work that Is
Remunerative-Some Information that
Is Worth POndering.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, Feb 14.-The best and most
significant movement that has ever taken
place among workingwomen has been ac-
compllshed in Chicago by the Incorporation
of "T'he Girls Cooperative Clothing Manu-
factory" Sixty girls, expert workers, it is
stated, have combined together, hired large
room, fitted it up with thirty sewing ma
chlnes-secured the patronage of a certain
number of dealers and gone to work for
themselves. They agree to draw moderate
wages weekly and divide the surplus at the
end OF the year. This is u start in the right
direction; this solves the problem of the
working Girls" so far as the sixty are con-
cerned, and the example will be priceless to
thousands of others. By this act they have
shown an intelligent comprehension Of the
situation and of the way to better it for
themselves and Others By it they at once
raise themselves from the position of power
less and dependent employees to independent
incentive to raising and maintaining higher
standard of work. No permanent improve
ment can take place in working conditions I'M
less this necessity is recognized The one diff
Guilty in regard to trades unions is that they
put good and bad workers on a level, and de-
mand the wages for them, whether the work
is done or not done, OF done well or i'll. 1t is
greatly to be hoped that the conscience of
workingwomen will prevent their accept
ance of this false fundamental basis. The CO.
operative principle is more dignified, more
honest, and therefore more honorable. There
are no prisoners of poverty" in this country
among those who know how and are willing
to do good work, unless they suffer
from the faint of vice OF inherited disease.
But the good worker has right to improve
his or her own condition by every possible
means. We have right to look forward to
cumulative compensation for days and hours
of toll; to the building up Of home; to its
enlargement; to the qualification of tastes
and provision for old age. There are en-
| ployers who endeavor to secure these rewards
to the worker, but they are the exception not
the rule. The average employer uses the best
years of mans or woman's life, gathers the
results, like grain, into his own barns and
holdings, fattens his own children upon it,
who are educated to despise the labor that
enriched them, and turns the laborer adrift
when he no longer serves his purpose.
Cooperation is the only guarantee for the
working man and woman; the only one for
the purchasers of the products of labor. The
association of young workingwomen upon
this basis is full of promise for their future
md 10 +bo l..
the other day by club of ladies, that the
working girl"-by which was meant shop
girls factory girls and the like-should tGke
refuge from the injustice practiced upon them
in their present position in the kitchens Of the
well to do classes-that is, be employed by
the women instead of the men. With all due
respect to the good intentions of the ladies in
the case, it is doubtful if this would not be,
at least and literally, jumping out of the fire
into the frying pan.
Domestic service with us, as, indeed, most
other things now and always, is in a transi-
ton stage. 1t retains, however, more of the
feudal elements than any other form of paid
labor; the very word servant, from servi-
tude, serf and serfdom, indicating the SUBJ
| jective attitude which seems to belong to it..
| But this is purely illusory, the outgrowth of
tradition and customs, but not warranted by
the actual facts as they exist to-day. The
vulgar, unthinking housekeeper ranks herself
mistress her domestic as maid or servant, but
the subordinate is not infrequently the better
off and more independent of the two She
| has it in her power to create perpetual dis
comfort in the household, and to cause it at
| the most inopportune moment, and if she con-
ho1 fol I
| rights infringed upon, arms aliimbo and sud-
den, unannounced exit are her methods of
self-assertion, of saying: II am not serf, or
servant, l will do your work as well as can,
within reasonable hours and for fair pay, but
I do not belong to you you do not own me,
and must not call upon me from early in the
morning until late at night, as if 1 was slave
or bondswoman; and if live in your house
| you must treat me like human being, and
not like creature of different order"
That is what domestic service is coming to
"a busness-the business of house work;
and the sooner the better. Already ladies
who occupy small apartments or flats are
| glad to make an arrangement by whicha COM
betent woman comes in the morning, does
the work of the day and leaves at night.
| There are slight inconvenience attending
such an arrangement, but it is much better
than living in hot water and without any
domestic assistance at all. Rich people can
offer inducement in higher wages and luxu-
rious homes for over hours of work. and the
poorer part of the community must be con-
tent to accept and teach the ignorant and in
competent in return for their willingness to
work long hours and for smaller pay. When
they are no longer ignorant and have become
competent they have perfect right to look
| for better and less exacting field of labor.
The trouble with, and in regard to, help in
the household, arises principally from selfish
ness, want of consideration and failure to
recognize the force of new conditions on the
part of employers, and the inability to express
clearly and without heat and violence, what
they feel on the part of the ignorant EN-
ployed. Experience and necessity in time
teach even those who are most unwilling to
learn; but they could save themselves and
others much trouble by clearer view and
| quicker acceptance of the situation.
The business policy which homework is
| beginning to assume is good thing in many
ways; it will compel better system and order
in detail of domestic life; it will make
women less selfish and irksome in tEeir de-
mands upon Others and more self-reliant: it
will oblige them to regulate their domestic
concerns with more regard to the convenience
and hours of paid workers, and avoid bur-
! dens and responsibilities which they are not
willing to assume, and which cannot he trans
ferred to other shoulders.
| ha loc Al .